Casual Carpool

 

Casual carpooling is a grassroots travel option, driven by supply and demand, to commute from the East Bay to downtown San Francisco.

On weekday mornings, people line up as either drivers or passengers at locations in the East Bay. These locations were established through word-of-mouth and experience over decades. Casual carpooling allows cars with three or more people going westbound on the Bay Bridge in the morning to take advantage of the high occupancy vehicle lanes, save time at the toll plaza and get the double bonus of a reduced bridge toll.

Before the COVID pandemic began, more than 20 casual carpool pick-up locations shown on the 511 Interactive Map were well used by commuters. Many of the locations are adjacent to AC Transit stops,  BART stations, or Bay Wheels stations so that riders have a back-up option if drivers do not arrive to pick up passengers. 

To read more about casual carpool's status visit Berkeleyside.  You can also participate in a casual carpool survey available through The Bay Link.

The information provided on this site is subject to the 511 Terms of Use.

View Casual Carpool Location on the Interactive Map

Search Pickup Locations

Showing 10 of 27 | Show All

  • Evening Casual Carpool Pick Up

    Beale Street, West side, between Howard & Folsom
    San Francisco

    Address:

    239-201 Spear Street
    San Francisco, CA 94105

  • Morning Casual Carpool Drop Off

    South side of Howard St. b/w First & Fremont
    San Francisco

    Address:

    Howard Street
    San Francisco, CA 94105

  • Encinal Ave & Park Ave

    On Park Ave Northwest corner of Encinal and Park Ave. Cars line up pointed towards Encinal
    Alameda - East Alameda

    Address:

    1301 Park Avenue
    Alameda, CA 94501

  • Webster St & Santa Clara Ave

    On Santa Clara on the Northeast corner of Webster St. and Santa Clara Ave. (Bus stop)
    Alameda - West Alameda

    Address:

    1453 Webster Street
    Alameda, CA 94501

  • Buchanan & I-80

    The casual carpool pick-up area is located inside the parking lot to the left of the parking lot entrance of the lot.
    Albany

    Address:

    Buchanan St
    Albany, CA 94706

  • North Berkeley BART

    On Sacramento, east of the entrance to the BART station. Rides to Civic Center as well as Downtown San Francisco: Drivers/riders going to Civic Center meet south of the newspaper racks. Downtown-bound cars pull up to, but not past, the newspaper racks. Civic Center drop-off is usually around 9th and Market, but drivers often volunteer to take riders further (north of Market) if they're going that way.
    Berkeley

    Address:

    1700 Sacramento Street
    Berkeley, CA 94702

  • Del Norte BART

    On Eastshore, just south of Orchard Supply Hardware. Do not park in the Orchard parking lot. You will be ticketed/towed.
    El Cerrito

    Address:

    1664 Eastshore Boulevard
    El Cerrito, CA 94530

  • Christie Ave & 64th St

    In front of the Pacific Park Plaza tower/condos
    Emeryville

    Address:

    6403 Christie Ave.
    Emeryville, CA 94608

  • Marina

    Powell St. between Admiral and Commodore
    Emeryville

    Address:

    3101 Powell Street
    Emeryville, CA 94608

  • Fairfield Transportation Center

    Corner of Cadenasso Dr. and Magellan (south of I-80 W. Texas St. exit)
    Fairfield

    Address:

    Magellan Rd
    Fairfield, CA 94533

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